Agony Aunt Claire gives advice on dealing with an office crush

ADVANCED psychotherapist and clinical hypnotherapist CLAIRE GASKIN sees clients in Essex and in London’s Harley Street. She is now bringing her expertise to the problems of our readers as our agony aunt.
If you have a problem you’d like Claire’s advice with, email agonyaunt@nqe.com For more details on Claire’s work, visitbenefittherapy.co.uk/

Dear Claire, I feel really embarrassed about this but there is someone at work who I really like and I think she likes me but I don’t know how to approach it.

We work in the same department and I think we get on well.

We are both single and of a similar age and I really want to ask her out. Do you think it’s a good idea ? Since we work together, if I have read the signs wrong then it will be really awkward.

Could I be imagining she is flirting with me ? The office Christmas do is coming up and I am wondering if I should make a move then but it would be awful to wake up the next day and regret anything.

I feel like a silly teenager and am thinking maybe I should just forget it and try other ways of meeting someone.

Claire says: People mostly regret the opportunities they let pass them by.

Various hormones are released when we are attracted to someone, which can play havoc with our thoughts and feelings.

Rest assured that if we think someone is flirting with us they usually are.

Body language is processed at subconscious levels and, although we might very occasionally pick up the wrong signals, it’s usually a lack of confidence which leads us to doubt our instincts.

A session or two of hypnotherapy can really help to build confidence, if this sounds familiar.

Did you know the office is statistically one of the best places to meet a romantic partner?

I think the Christmas do is a great time to ask your colleague out.

A trip to the cinema is a perfect first date: You learn to feel comfortable in their close company and avoid awkward silences afterwards because you have a shared experience to talk about.

Decide on a movie before the party and then strike up a conversation with your crush.

Say you’re looking forward to seeing this film and invite her along.

If she turns you down you can still hold your head up the next day.

However, there’s every chance she will say yes. I say, go for it!

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